Luggage construction with exterior u frame

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to an article of luggage comprising a Ushaped frame means for forming the entire bottom and the entire sides of the article of luggage and a top frame member secured to the frame means. A pair of fabric panels are secured to the frame means and frame member for forming the front and back of said article of luggage and slide fastener closure means are disposed along the peripheral edge of one of said fabric panels for providing an access opening for the article of luggage.

United States Patent H 13,s59,77s

lnventors Anthony N. D'Elia Riverdale; Edward M. Stolarz, Yorktown Heights, N.Y. Appl. No. 789,681 Filed Jan. 8, I969 Patented Feb. 2, 1971 Assignee Reliable Luggage, Inc.

West Pittsburgh, Pa.

a corporation of Pennsylvania LUGGAGE CONSTRUCTION WITH EXTERIOR U FRAME 7 Claims, 9 Drawing Figs.

[15. Cl 190/49, l90/54 Int. Cl A45c 13/04 Field of Search 190/49, 50, 54, 412

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,684, l 35 7/1954 Cart 190/4 1 (Z) 3,447,649 6/1969 Kish I 90/50 FOREIGN PATENTS 139,570 3/ l 953 Sweden 190/49 518.170 3/1953 Belgium 190/49 Primary ExaminerDonald F. Norton Attorney-Kenneth S. Goldfarb ABSTRACT: This invention relates to an article of luggage comprising a U-shaped frame means for forming the entire bottom and the entire sides of the article of luggage and a top frame member secured to the frame means. A pair of fabric panels are secured to the frame means and frame member for forming the front and back of said article of luggage and slide fastener closure means are disposed along the peripheral edge of one of said fabric panels for providing an access opening for the article of luggage.

LUGGAGE CONSTRUCTION WITH EXTERIOR U FRAME This invention relates to an article of luggage, and more particularly to a soft sided article of luggage having a two piece prestressed rigid frame assembly.

Heretofore, it has been found that soft sided luggage, generally having top and bottom fabric panels of a washable plastic material, is not capable of withstanding more than the minimum amount of usage. In some cases this is because the panels tend to stretch up to the limit of the material s elasticity under the load of the garments and other items filling the article of luggage which can finally result in tearing a panel from its frame or in tearing a zipper from the panel on which it is located. In other cases it may result in the disforrning or buckling of the luggage frame when the article is completely filled and the consequent disfiguration of the article of luggage.

It is, therefore, the primary object of this invention to provide a soft sided article of luggage which will retain its shape when filled with garments and the like to a point beyond its apparent capacity therefor.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of a soft sided article of luggage having a two piece prestressed rigid frame assembly and a fabric exterior including two unsupported fabric panels, the rigid frame assembly being capable of relieving the outward pressure placed upon the fabric panels when the article of luggage is filled with garments and the like to a point beyond its apparent capacity therefor.

A further object of this invention resides in the provision of a soft sided article of luggage having a fabric exterior including two unsupported fabric panels which will not be stretched out of shape or torn from the frame to which it is attached except when placed under excessive strain.

Still another object of the invention resides in the provision of a soft sided article of luggage which is extremely sturdy, yet attractive in appearance.

Still further objects and features of the invention reside in the provision of a soft sided article of luggage which is inexpensive to manufacture, which is compact and streamlined in appearance, and which is easy to keep clean.

These, together with the various ancillary objects and features of this invention, which will become apparent as the fol lowing description proceeds, are attained by this article of luggage, preferred embodiments of which have been illustrated in the accompanying drawing, by way of example only, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a partial view taken in perspective of a soft sided article of luggage in accordance with the concepts of the invention, a part being broken away to show another part in detail;

FIG. 2 is an elevational view taken in section of the soft sided article of luggage illustrated in FIG. 1 without the handle showing the interior construction thereof;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the article of luggage of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view of the interior of said article of luggage taken along the plane of line 4-4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view showing the manner of attachment of the top frame member and the U-shaped frame of the prestressed rigid luggage frame assembly according to the invention taken along the plane of line 5-5 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is an elevational view of another embodiment of the soft sided article of luggage having the two piece prestressed rigid frame assembly of the invention;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary side view of the article of luggage looking along the plane of line 7-7 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a top plan view of the article of luggage illustrated in FIG. 6 without the handle; and,

FIG. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical view taken in sec tion showing the manner of attachment of the top frame member and the U-shaped frame of the prestressed luggage frame assembly through the handle taken along the plane of line 9-9 of FIG. 7.

With continuing reference to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 through 4, wherein like reference numerals designate similar parts throughout the various views, reference numeral 10 is used to generally designate the soft sided article of luggage of the present invention. Article of luggage 10 includes a substantially trapezoidal rigid frame assembly depicted in FIG. -2, generally designated as 12, having a fabric covering 14 stretched across the exterior surfaces of its bottom 16, sides 18 and 20, and surface 22. A front panel 24 and rear panel, not seen, is fabricated from the fabric covering, which will be described more fully hereinafter, and stitched along its peripheral edges to inside surfaces 26, 28, 30 and 32 to frame assembly 12.

Rigid frame assembly 12 is of a substantially trapezoidal shape and comprises a rigid Ushaped frame means, generally designated as 34. The bottom 22 of frame member 36 is substantially shorter than the bottom 16 of frame means 34. Side members 42 and 44 of frame member 36 are secured to the uppermost parts of the sides 18 and 20 of frame means 34 by suitable fastening means, such as rivets 50, clips, and the like. Frame means 34 has a substantially rectangular bottom 16 and integral sides 18 and 20 which slightly taper from curved edges 38 and 40 to a smaller width than the width of the bottom 16. Frame member 36 is U-shaped having an elongated substantially rectangular bottom 22 and integral sides 42 and 44 upwardly extending from its curved edges 46 and 48. The width of sides 42 and 44 and of bottom 22 of frame member 36 is equal to the width at the uppermost part of sides 18 and 20 of frame means 34.

Frame means 34 and frame member 36 are manufactured from rigid materials such as plywood or molded plastic. If the material is plywood, the curvature of portions 38 and 40 of frame means 34 and of portions 46 and 48 of frame member 36 are formed by processes well known in the art. This construction results in placing both frame means 34 and frame member 36 under tension, thereby providing a two piece prestressed rigid frame assembly 12. it is to be understood that frame means 34 includes a bottom I6 which is longer than the bottom 22 of frame member 36 so that when the side members of the frames are joined together, all parts will be under tension. Spacer blocks 52 and 54, having a length equal to the width of frame member 36, are disposed between the respective attached sides 42 and 18 and attached sides 44-and 20 for preventing breakage of the sides under tension. Additional support to the two piece frame assembly is provided by spacer bar 56 being of the same width as frame member 36 and extending substantially the entire distance between the opposite sides 18 and 20 of frame means 34. Spacer bar 56 is attached to the bottom surface 32 of frame member 36 by any suitable means, for example adhesive, and the like.

The fabric covering 14 is applied tightly across frame means 34 by stitching it to the inner surfaces 26, 28 and 30 along its peripheral edge. Similarly, the fabric covering 14 is attached to the bottom 22 and side members 42 and 44 of frame member 36 and stitched along its peripheral edge to the bottom surface 32. Fabric is also stretched across the tops 58 and 60, sides 62 and 64, and opposite sides, not seen, of spacer blocks 52 and 54, respectively, and stitched thereto. A fabric panel 24 forms the front of the article of luggage l0 and includes a slide fastener closure 66, zipper, or the like disposed along the periphery thereof and provides access to the interior of the luggage. Similarly, another panel, not seen, extends across and completely covers the rear side of the article of luggage 10. The panels, front and rear, are stitched along their peripheral edges to the opposite sides of inner surfaces 26, 28 and 30 of frame means 34, to the undersides 68 and 70 of spacer blocks 52 and 54, and also to the bottom surface 32 of frame member 36. The fabric covering 14 is preferably a washable material and may be fabricated in various colors from any one of the numerous plastic sheet materials now on the ground without damaging the fabric covering 14 of the frame.

Referring now to FIGS. 6 through 9, there is seen another embodiment of the invention. Article of luggage, generally designated as 76, includes substantially U-shaped frame means, generally designated as 78, and U-shaped frame member, generally designated as 80. Frame means 78 is provided with an integral bottom 82 and side members 84 and 86 and includes integral upper portions 88 and 90 disposed' horizontally across substantially two thirds of the entire top of article of luggage 76. Frame means 78 tapers along its sides 84 and 86 to a width which is smaller than the width of its bottom 82. Upper portions 88 and 90 are of the same width as the width at the uppermost part of sides 84 and 86. Frame member 80 includes a bottom 92 which comprises substantially one third the length of the entire top of the article of luggage 76 and side members 94 and 96, all being of the same width as upper portions 88 and 90 of frame means 78. The length across the entire top of the luggage frame is shorter than the bottom 82 of frame means 78. Frame member 80 is secured to frame means 78 with rivets 98 passing through sides 84 and 88 and respective flanges 100 and 102 integral with and upwardly extending from the edges of upper portions 88 and 90. Conveniently, rivets 98 pass through the bottom portions 104 and 106 of handle 108 disposed between side member 94 and flange 100 and side 96 and flange 102, respectively. Handle 108 is rotatably secured to the piece of luggage and also serves to prevent breakage of sides 94 and 96 and flanges I and 102 which are under strain.

Fabric covering is applied to frame means 78 and 80 of article of luggage 76 and front and rear fabric panels are disposed across the open ends of the rigid frame assembly in a manner similar to that described hereinabove.

It is easily seen that the article of luggage provided for hereinabove is streamlined and attractive in appearance. Furthermore, the article of luggage is extremely sturdy and durable due to its two piece prestressed rigid frame assembly which can accommodate a heavy load of garments and other items without causing disfiguration of the frame or tearing of the fabric panels due to the fact that pressure placed on the inside walls 26 and 30 of luggage or walls 84 and 86 of luggage 78 merely tend to relieve the strain of the prestressed frame assembly and cannot injure it.

A latitude of modification, change and substitution is intended in the foregoing disclosure, and in some instances some features of the invention will be employed without a corresponding use of other features. Accordingly, it is appropriate that the appended claims be construed broadly and in a manner consistent with the spirit and scope of the invention herein.

We claim:

1. An article of luggage comprising U-shaped frame means for forming the entire bottom and the entire sides of the article of luggage, a top frame member secured to said frame means. a pair of spaced fabric means secured to said frame means-and frame member for forming the front and back of said article of luggage, and slide fastener closure means associated with one of said fabric means at a location adjacent said frame means for providing an access opening for said article of luggage, said top frame member being U-shaped and having integral bottom and side members, said bottom of said frame means being longer than said bottom of said frame member, and means securing each of said side members of said frame member to the uppermost part of each of said sides of said frame means.

2. An article of luggage according to claim 1, wherein said means securing said frame means and said frame member places both said frame means and frame member under tension to provide a two-part prestressed frame assembly.

3. An article of luggage according to claim 2, including spacer blocks disposed between each of said sides of said frame means and said side members of said frame member.

4. An article of luggage according to claim 2, including a rigid spacer bar disposed beneath said to frame member and attached thereto, said spacer bar exten mg substantially the entire distance between said sides of said U-shaped frame means for providing support to said two-piece prestressed frame assembly.

5. An article of luggage according to claim 1, including handle means attached to said top frame member for carrying said article of luggage in an upright position.

6. An article of luggage comprising U-shaped frame means for fonning the entire bottom and the entire sides of the article of luggage, a top frame member secured to said frame means, a pair of spaced fabric means secured to said frame means and frame member for forming the front and back of said article of luggage, and slide fastener closure means associated with one of said fabric means at a location adjacent said frame means for providing an access opening for said article of luggage, said top frame member being U-shaped and having integral bottom and side members, said bottom of said frame member being about one-third the length of said bottom of said frame means, said frame means including upper portions forming substantially two thirds of the top of said article of luggage and including integral upwardly extending flanges disposed at the edges of said upper portions, said side members being fastened to said flanges, and the entire top of said article of luggage being shorter than said bottom of said frame means so as to form a two-piece prestressed frame assembly.

7. An article of luggage according to claim 6, including handle means, a part of said handle means being disposed and rotatable secured between each pair of said flanges and said side members for carrying said article of luggage in an upright position. 

1. An article of luggage comprising U-shaped frame means for forming the entire bottom and the entire sides of the article of luggage, a top frame member secured to said frame means, a pair of space fabric means secured to said frame means and frame member for forming the front and back of said article of luggage, and slide fastener closure means associated with one of said fabric means at a location adjacent said frame means for providing an access opening for said article of luggage, said top frame member being U-shaped and having integral bottom and side members, said bottom of said frame means being longer than said bottom of said frame member, and means securing each of said side members of said frame member to the uppermost part of each of said sides of said frame means.
 2. An article of luggage according to claim 1, wherein said means securing said frame means and said frame member places both said frame means and frame member under tension to provide a two-part prestressed frame assembly.
 3. An article of luggage according to claim 2, including spacer blocks disposed between each of said sides of said frame means and said side members of said frame member.
 4. An article of luggage according to claim 2, including a rigid spacer bar disposed beneath said top frame member and attached thereto, said spacer bar extending substantially the entire distance between said sides of said U-shaped frame means for providing support to said two-piece prestressed frame assembly.
 5. An article of luggage according to claim 1, including handle means attached to said top frame member for carrying said article of luggage in an upright position.
 6. An article of luggage comprising U-shaped frame means for forming the entire bottom and the entire sides of the article of luggage, a top frame member secured to said frame means, a pair of spaced fabric means secured to said frame means and frame member for forming the front and back of said article of luggage, and slide fastener closure means associated with one of said fabric means at a location adjacent said frame means for providing an access opening for said article of luggage, said top frame member being U-shaped and having integral bottom and side members, said bottom of said frame member being about one-third the length of said bottom of said frame means, said frame means including upper portions forming substantially two thirds of the top of said article of luggage and including integral upwardly extending flanges disposed at the edges of said upper portions, said side members being fastened to said flanges, and the entire top of said article of luggage being shorter than said bottom of said frame means so as to form a two-piece prestressed frame assembly.
 7. An article of luggage according to claim 6, including handle means, a part of said handle means being disposed and rotatable secured between each pair of said flanges and said side members for carrying said article of luggage in an upright position. 